Ritchie Blackmore, the legendary guitarist known for his work with Deep Purple, has shared a humorous yet regretful story involving fellow guitarist Eric Clapton during the early days of their music careers. In a recent episode of his YouTube series, Blackmore reminisced about a late-night incident that unfolded in a hotel in Melbourne.
The story dates back to an era when rock bands were often on the road, grappling with the peculiarities of life on tour. Blackmore described how he and his band sought to protest the noisy maintenance work that was disturbing them at 3 a.m. in their hotel. The band made the decision to amplify their frustrations by cranking up several Marshall amplifiers for some loud music.
However, unbeknownst to Blackmore and his crew, Clapton was occupying the room next door. After several disturbances by hotel staff trying to quiet the noise, a knock on the door revealed Clapton's security personnel, much to Blackmore's embarrassment.
Reflecting on the incident, Blackmore expressed that he had initially made a positive impression on Clapton when his band supported Cream back in 1968. But this event added an element of awkwardness to their relationship. He acknowledged, "I was in there having a drink, but I wasn't playing. That doesn't get me off the hook—it was really my idea to make all this noise."
This amusing anecdote underscores the unpredictable nature of touring life for rock musicians during that time. To catch more of Blackmore's entertaining stories, visit his YouTube channel.